From the archive record
Fisherman in a row boats near Kochi, Kerala Formerly known as Cochin, Kochi is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea in the district of Ernakulam, Kerala.The city of Kochi is Kerala's second largest city and the most densely populated city in the state. Kochi city is also a part of Greater Cochin region and also the highest graded city in the state. The Outlook Traveller magazine has named Kochi as the sixth best tourist destination in India. Heralded as the Queen of Arabian Sea, Kochi was an important spice trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast from the 14th century. Occupied by the Portuguese Empire in 1503, Kochi was the first of the European colonies in India. It remained the main seat of Portuguese India until 1530, when Goa was chosen instead. The city was